For the Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2014 Runway Show, Miuccia Prada vocally and symbolically reckoned with the “classics”. In a way, she paid homage to styles that have defined the past, but more so, the show questions what we associate with classics. Prada is interested in how a style, garment, or accessory can become such a thing. And finally, the designer dares to wonder what might happen when all these classics come together.
The show opens on a set designed by OMA, the architectural organization started by Rem Koolhaas. Bright colored lights typical of high fashion runway are offset by patterned wallpaper and unexpected textures. The floor moves from shiny vinyl, to checkards, to soft, colored carpeting. It is an eclecticism that quite literally sets the stage for the collection to come.
When the Miu Miu looks begin to come down the runway, Prada’s fearless color-blocking (that feels quite relevant today) is immediately noticeable. The designer seems to play gleefully with these complementary and unexpected color combinations. At first, jewel toned Mary-Janes appear consistently over white lace tights. Classic. And in a way that is both girlish and high fashion. Once again, Miuccia Prada is striving to complicate our view on “femininity”. Meanwhile, collared coats with large buttons take center stage.
But as the models continue down the runway, Miuccia’s looks become increasingly eclectic. Patterns appear-- artistic ones of faces, flowers, and cats. Those little mary-janes become suede boots that lace up to the knee (some are even sequined). White lace tights take on colors like turquoise and orange. They’re now complemented by bold, wedge sandals. What makes the collection so striking is the multitude of elements that contribute to these somehow refined looks. Funky silhouettes bring an element of structure in details from skirts and coats to bags and shoes. Sheer lace tops and button-downs are layered atop one another. Prada brings us fur jackets in spring colors. And vinyl was not only another relevant material at use, but perhaps a mood for the collection as a whole.
The end of the show introduces both 80s balloon silhouette and sequined slip dresses. Decorated in similar color and patterns, these mini dresses are decorated with beaded tassels that finally become fringe on skirts. Miuccia Prada offers up a platter overflowing with classics from 1960s outerwear to 1920s glam. With this Miu Miu collection, a collision of all we thought we knew, Prada leaves our hearts nostalgic and our senses swimming in the designer’s creative vision.
![Miu miu sss 2014 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/CJfDgkfJNxwR7kSAKKjMe/422001ff2213a0fca0db18f6a30c3d8b/Miu_Miu_SSS_2014_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Josef Albers
Homage to the Square- With Rays, 1959
![Josef albers homage to the square with rays 1959](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/16vBs9dMT5EbWPEcezuFQM/4b2e175793fc23740aec089ee9c29a30/Josef_Albers__Homage_to_the_Square-_With_Rays__1959.jpg)
Christian Dior
'Tourterelle' Evening Dress, FW 1948
Hilma af Klint
The Ten Largest, No. 3, Ungdommen; Youth, Group IV, 1907
![Hilma af klint the ten largest no. 3 ungdommen youth group iv 1907](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5U2J6REOHB8Az4H5IX8VN4/490105110c66740579dcd467a0cb6062/Hilma_af_Klint__The_Ten_Largest__No._3__Ungdommen__Youth__Group_IV__1907.jpg)
Herbert Levine
Lace-Up Boots, 1964
![Herbert levine lace up boots 1964](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/53z3LBMgEFB5kBqOu3k9HS/5984b6015b67690c54606252907eb940/Herbert_Levine__Lace-Up_Boots__1964.jpg)
Hector Guimard
Large Chandelier, 1900
![Hector guimard large chandelier 1900](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3YYz3wwsPYDYxJhTfpUK8T/109681ca00e88d2de4d8b889725b1bd6/Hector_Guimard__Large_Chandelier__1900.jpg)
Elsa Schiaparelli and Jean Cocteau
Evening Coat (Detail), 1937
![Elsa schiaparelli and jean cocteau evening coat detail 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4zehZ6cz2RaSsrf4ql5qDE/3187dcad22ee554bb98a4cc812fae1d9/Elsa_Schiaparelli_and_Jean_Cocteau__Evening_Coat__Detail___1937.jpg)
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy
Cabinet-Vitrine, 1899
![Gustave serrurier bovy cabinet vitrine 1899](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2xi0r3lgO9Ws2SAAGx0VBM/4c4b7dad3a30d3f4661e5de7217d304a/Gustave_Serrurier-Bovy__Cabinet-Vitrine__1899.jpg)
Colorful Tights
US Vogue, February 1967
![Colorful tights us vogue february 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3uI65UkFcfuTDG0ITwIX7z/7ec5015ddecc027b224b39e2f0e9f5b4/Colorful_Tights__US_Vogue__February_1967.jpg)
André Courrèges
Mod Ensemble, 1960s
![Andre courre ges mod ensemble 1960s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3f2xY0nbPeR2BptW5yjeCv/d4800351951ed94d52d231e34399b09a/Andre___Courre__ges__Mod_Ensemble__1960s.jpg)
André Courrèges
Vinyl Coat in L'officiel, 1968
![Andre courre ges vinyl coat in l officiel 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3MA6YSw1lbbxVBuriKMOob/b560cf6d14596de19f9c91631adfc63b/Andre___Courre__ges__Vinyl_Coat_in_L_officiel__1968.jpg)
Agnes Martin
Untitled #3, 1974
![Agnes martin untitled 3 1974](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6zlXX6GKphAAq8ShjdDqai/64553d8210e816770ef55a0dd7d1339e/Agnes_Martin__Untitled__3__1974.jpg)
Julie de Graag
Sitting Cat, 1918
![Julie de graag sitting cat 1918](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5QC3ESPEZMcSnCOVvmOPYf/52f4d3ce6d91ea347c6925cbff606f8e/Julie_de_Graag__Sitting_Cat__1918.jpg)
Liberty London
Shepherdly Flowers Pattern Fabric
![Liberty london shepherdly flowers pattern fabric](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1bIhWKwmEiu2ig91dQUxqG/35c370397b8b7562e7c81405972a532d/Liberty_London__Shepherdly_Flowers_Pattern_Fabric.jpeg)
Mary Tuthill Lindheim
Blue Mother and Child, 1966
Peter Behrens
Jugendstil Table Lamp, 1902
![Peter behrens jugendstil table lamp 1902](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/IDRkXvZqI2slVWemVnxTE/d926af4d711b507aae06be1b6f611591/Peter_Behrens__Jugendstil_Table_Lamp__1902.jpg)
Peter Behrens
Spherical Vase, 1901
![Peter behrens spherical vase 1901](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/K2I4E2iYxChTSxIqpJSOD/a08451213aaa54a34963378e72b57aeb/Peter_Behrens__Spherical_Vase__1901.jpg)
Peter Behrens
The Kiss, 1898
![Peter behrens the kiss 1898](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1V3eLcVDNmyzjpTMjL5Tiq/77fd52b4fefeb0a7328cdceaf18059ba/Peter_Behrens__The_Kiss__1898.jpg)
Walter von Ruckteschell
Desk Chair, 1925
![Walter von ruckteschell desk chair 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7HgtJoHIDabUCsvQDgkKf7/eef1fb4708503a8915e831f01e76cd2c/Walter_von_Ruckteschell__Desk_Chair__1925.jpg)
William De Morgan
Ruby Lustre Fish Tile, 1885
![William de morgan ruby lustre fish tile 1885](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4tp7I625kpRrH3HtYsXzri/700cd1a5fef120e67708c3053a4c411b/William_De_Morgan__Ruby_Lustre_Fish_Tile__1885.jpg)
References
![Josef albers homage to the square with rays 1959](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/16vBs9dMT5EbWPEcezuFQM/4b2e175793fc23740aec089ee9c29a30/Josef_Albers__Homage_to_the_Square-_With_Rays__1959.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Josef Albers
Homage to the Square- With Rays, 1959
1 of 19
Christian Dior
'Tourterelle' Evening Dress, FW 1948
2 of 19
![Hilma af klint the ten largest no. 3 ungdommen youth group iv 1907](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5U2J6REOHB8Az4H5IX8VN4/490105110c66740579dcd467a0cb6062/Hilma_af_Klint__The_Ten_Largest__No._3__Ungdommen__Youth__Group_IV__1907.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Hilma af Klint
The Ten Largest, No. 3, Ungdommen; Youth, Group IV, 1907
3 of 19
![Herbert levine lace up boots 1964](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/53z3LBMgEFB5kBqOu3k9HS/5984b6015b67690c54606252907eb940/Herbert_Levine__Lace-Up_Boots__1964.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Herbert Levine
Lace-Up Boots, 1964
4 of 19
![Hector guimard large chandelier 1900](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3YYz3wwsPYDYxJhTfpUK8T/109681ca00e88d2de4d8b889725b1bd6/Hector_Guimard__Large_Chandelier__1900.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Hector Guimard
Large Chandelier, 1900
5 of 19
![Elsa schiaparelli and jean cocteau evening coat detail 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4zehZ6cz2RaSsrf4ql5qDE/3187dcad22ee554bb98a4cc812fae1d9/Elsa_Schiaparelli_and_Jean_Cocteau__Evening_Coat__Detail___1937.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Elsa Schiaparelli and Jean Cocteau
Evening Coat (Detail), 1937
6 of 19
![Gustave serrurier bovy cabinet vitrine 1899](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2xi0r3lgO9Ws2SAAGx0VBM/4c4b7dad3a30d3f4661e5de7217d304a/Gustave_Serrurier-Bovy__Cabinet-Vitrine__1899.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gustave Serrurier-Bovy
Cabinet-Vitrine, 1899
7 of 19
![Colorful tights us vogue february 1967](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3uI65UkFcfuTDG0ITwIX7z/7ec5015ddecc027b224b39e2f0e9f5b4/Colorful_Tights__US_Vogue__February_1967.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Colorful Tights
US Vogue, February 1967
8 of 19
![Andre courre ges mod ensemble 1960s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3f2xY0nbPeR2BptW5yjeCv/d4800351951ed94d52d231e34399b09a/Andre___Courre__ges__Mod_Ensemble__1960s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
André Courrèges
Mod Ensemble, 1960s
9 of 19
![Andre courre ges vinyl coat in l officiel 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3MA6YSw1lbbxVBuriKMOob/b560cf6d14596de19f9c91631adfc63b/Andre___Courre__ges__Vinyl_Coat_in_L_officiel__1968.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
André Courrèges
Vinyl Coat in L'officiel, 1968
10 of 19
![Agnes martin untitled 3 1974](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6zlXX6GKphAAq8ShjdDqai/64553d8210e816770ef55a0dd7d1339e/Agnes_Martin__Untitled__3__1974.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Agnes Martin
Untitled #3, 1974
11 of 19
![Julie de graag sitting cat 1918](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5QC3ESPEZMcSnCOVvmOPYf/52f4d3ce6d91ea347c6925cbff606f8e/Julie_de_Graag__Sitting_Cat__1918.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Julie de Graag
Sitting Cat, 1918
12 of 19
![Liberty london shepherdly flowers pattern fabric](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1bIhWKwmEiu2ig91dQUxqG/35c370397b8b7562e7c81405972a532d/Liberty_London__Shepherdly_Flowers_Pattern_Fabric.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Liberty London
Shepherdly Flowers Pattern Fabric
13 of 19
Mary Tuthill Lindheim
Blue Mother and Child, 1966
14 of 19
![Peter behrens jugendstil table lamp 1902](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/IDRkXvZqI2slVWemVnxTE/d926af4d711b507aae06be1b6f611591/Peter_Behrens__Jugendstil_Table_Lamp__1902.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Peter Behrens
Jugendstil Table Lamp, 1902
15 of 19
![Peter behrens spherical vase 1901](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/K2I4E2iYxChTSxIqpJSOD/a08451213aaa54a34963378e72b57aeb/Peter_Behrens__Spherical_Vase__1901.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Peter Behrens
Spherical Vase, 1901
16 of 19
![Peter behrens the kiss 1898](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1V3eLcVDNmyzjpTMjL5Tiq/77fd52b4fefeb0a7328cdceaf18059ba/Peter_Behrens__The_Kiss__1898.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Peter Behrens
The Kiss, 1898
17 of 19
![Walter von ruckteschell desk chair 1925](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7HgtJoHIDabUCsvQDgkKf7/eef1fb4708503a8915e831f01e76cd2c/Walter_von_Ruckteschell__Desk_Chair__1925.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Walter von Ruckteschell
Desk Chair, 1925
18 of 19
![William de morgan ruby lustre fish tile 1885](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4tp7I625kpRrH3HtYsXzri/700cd1a5fef120e67708c3053a4c411b/William_De_Morgan__Ruby_Lustre_Fish_Tile__1885.jpg?w=1000&q=70)